Why vaccine-shy French are suddenly rushing to get jabbed

Why vaccine-shy French are suddenly rushing to get jabbed. By The Economist.

Look at the sudden rush to get vaccinated in France last week:

COVID-19 VACCINATION rates are slowing in many rich countries. As they inoculate more of their citizens, countries begin to meet resistance among people who are less confident about being jabbed. Few people have been more vaccine-sceptic than the French. A poll carried out by Ifop in December reported that a remarkable 61% of them would not get vaccinated against covid-19 — compared with 30% in America. In another poll in 2018, one-in-three told the Wellcome Trust that they did not think vaccines were safe — more than in any other country out of 144 surveyed. …

So what changed?

On July 12th Emmanuel Macron, France’s president, announced a nudge à la française in order to encourage more people to get jabbed. During a televised address watched by more than 22m, he said that from August people who were not fully vaccinated would not be allowed into restaurants, bars, shopping centres, long-distance trains and flights. …

A stern-looking Mr Macron also said that vaccination will be compulsory for all health workers, and enforced from September. …

Proof of full vaccination via the digital health pass — which is now also valid in all EU countries — or a negative PCR test will be required for access to restaurants and other listed places for all people over the age of 12. To stop the hesitant using the country’s hitherto-free PCR tests as an alternative to vaccination, these tests will now be subject to a charge, unless prescribed by a doctor.

Looks like vaccine passports will be common in the West by Christmas.

Or maybe not. UPDATE: Mass protests erupt in Greece after government bans unvaccinated from indoor public spaces. By RT.

Thousands took the streets in two of Greece’s largest cities to protest new health mandates — which bar the unvaccinated from many public spaces and require medical staff to take the shot — as well as plans to immunize teenagers. …

Chants of “Hands off our kids!” and “We say no to vaccine poison.”

Funny, the Economist article above failed to mention this:

Similar mass demonstrations were also seen in France on Wednesday, where crowds took to the streets across the country to mark Bastille Day and protest a new vaccine requirement for healthcare workers. A “health pass” set to be introduced in August has also stoked outrage, after President Emmanuel Macron previously vowed to issue no vaccine mandates or passports.

hat-tip Stephen Neil